Night Crawler by Terry Davis AKA Kurt Wagner
Night Crawler’s origin is originally unknown but for a fact his parents are the mutant Mystique and the demon Azazel. He has the power to teleport just like his father and has his father’s demonic look. He has his mother’s blue skin. He was part of the circus where he came across a hysterical family that had no ill feelings toward mutants. He left because of an unfair treatment he was receiving and moved on with life. He started a new life in Germany where he met his brother Stefan whom he accidently kills in a fight. But while still living in Germany people couldn’t adjust to knowing what he was, so angry mobs started attacking him not so long after his brother’s death. Thankfully Charles Xavier of the X-Men came to save young Kurt. And that is how he took on the identity of one of the X-Men’s finest. He might seem like an evil mutant but is a big believer of God and is Catholic. Kurt is peaceful but because of the world’s misconception of his apperance his darker side shows more.
Chapter 4 Nature vs Nurture Debate- The ongoing discussion of the respective roles of genetics and socialization in determining individual behaviors and traits.(PG 101) Night Crawler is born with blue skin. Of course his genetic make up is from his mother but his social interaction is the reason for his shyness and animalistic behavior at times. His problems are that he was never taught socialization until he was older. He was raised by foster parents who then gave him to the church for his own protection. And as he was older he moved to the circus, but in the real world his social skills had to be weak. If someone was to see Kurt you would think he was a feral person but he’s not. The mind just makes you think that way because of his skin and demonic tail. The good thing about Kurt was he wasn’t part of the hip social norm nor was he competitive toward anybody in the circus. His whole life he wanted to be surrounded by people who didn’t have a problem being surrounded by him. His ego was righteous and respectful and he never had a super ego. His stages of life were never really spoken of because he had no real childhood or teen stages because of lack of interaction. His expressions may seem strange because he wasn’t taught much interaction. He had no real schooling. Out of most of the super heroes Night Crawler seems to be the one not poisoned by society. Even as he joins the X-Men and views them as peers there of no mental threat and mass media doesn’t affect him much because he’s around other mutants and mutants are hated so he blends in. But his ascribed status makes him always stand out as the scariest X-Men. So of course he’ll be stereotyped and made fun of and even feared. But Kurt’s role conflict is taking machinery from Professor Xavier that can cloak him to look like a regular person, or go through life not being himself. This is what sets off his emotions and personalities. This really hits him hard when he try’s to figure out if he wants to blend in or be with his lover Amanda Sefton who accepts Kurt for who he is. His feeling rules ultimately force his to be who he is and not someone else.
Chapter 6
Ritualists-Individuals who have given up hope of achieving society’s approved goals but still operate according to society’s approved means. (PG 157)
Night crawler like a select group of other mutants has given up home on getting society’s acceptance because he knows he will always be viewed as a grotesque figure in everyone else’s eyes besides other mutants. He hasn’t went down a path of destruction but one of helping others make better for their selves like when he helped Storm calm the rage of the Morlocks that were kidnapping other mutants, which is an underground mutant cult. Night Crawler hopes that society becomes stronger and wiser and through his Catholic belief’s he hopes for the world to look at the spirit instead of the man. Kurt could be judged on many things though he lives a righteous life. But he could be judged by his tattoos. In X-Men 2 Storm and Jean pay close attention to his tattoos which all of them have something to do with a religious aspect of Catholic relations. He operates according to how society feels with the image inducer but ultimately he will always feel a certain way about hiding his true self. So to go along with his beliefs Night Crawler is a big ritualist because instead of being focused on what is seen through society’s eyes he is more focused on being seen through Gods eyes by the lords approved means.
Chapter 8 Situational Ethnicity- An ethnic identity that can be either displayed or concealed depending on its usefulness in a given situation. (PG 218)
When any person takes a good look at Kurt. There is no ethnicity among regular human beings; granted Kurt is a mutant. But he was born in Russia and raised catholic. When most people think of that they think of a dark brownish haired light eyed gentleman. When Kurt is viewed from everyone in the world he is viewed as a demon no more and no less. What makes him stand out among the other x men is that he has one of the strongest beliefs in God and tries to convert wolverine in believing in something at one point in time. Kurt has three fingers: razor sharp teeth: a tail with a spear: and blue skin, along with the fact his somewhat hunch back and has the ability to crawl along with his teleportation ability. In everyone’s eyes he is the monster in the room. He conceals his identity with the image inducer machine that is given to him. What’s foul is not only in the real world with no mutants but in the x men world with many mutants in that people are always looking for something to hate. In the real world people discriminate off the way you sound and your skin color. What hurts is the fact that in the mutant world people of all different races and ethnicities come together to hate against one type of people. Those people are mutants. And so be it that there is no discrimination in the mutant world whatsoever unless you choose to feel that way and end up living with the Morlocks which heaven forbid. But Kurt is always having to choose what side is right. That could be his Catholic morals and his mutant morals. He goes from being a regular Caucasian male around regular people to a demon looking semi-grotesque creature around his mutant comrades. And I know for a fact is that Kurt can’t be who he wants to be when he wants to be it because people will scold and attack him and the other mutants that even resemble Kurt’s figure or visual build in anyway shape or form will judge him for not being who he is. So Kurt is like many people that are always trying to fit in because every day he lives and saves lives there is a constant struggle between who he is and who he tries to be. And I call him Kurt because that is his name which holds more value in my eyes besides some name professor Xavier gives a mutant which he feels the need to name at times though I know he only gives suggestions. But it hurts me as a person to know that Night Crawlers situational ethnicity boils down to transforming into a regular person and actually looking like his name, a true Night Crawler.
Chapter 10 Belief-A proposition or ideas held on the basis of faith. (PG 303)
Through every problem and situation Kurt kept his religion. Kurt is Roman Catholic and has stayed true to what he believes. The world tosses Kurt aside but through the good word Kurt finds peace and love. His religion promotes good qualities for him. But he needs to have respectful qualities if he is to be judged in a hurtful way daily. He has tried to convert others to a faith because he feels it is god to have a strong belief. Night Crawler tries to save the day not only with his powers and swords but his religion. The faith is what pushes him to do better.
Chapter 16 Social Change-The transformation of a culture over time. (PG 469)
Night Crawler makes a transformation like no other among the X-Men. Kurt has become like a family member to the others mutants regardless how much he sticks out. His social change was the people that would accept it and that are what matters. There is no more living in shadows or being considered the odd ball out. Wolverine of all people accepting Kurt and making him part of his shield team and Professor Xavier making wolverine basically a upper classed X-Men changed Kurt. His personality and mind frame changed and that’s what’s most important. In Kurt’s situation it’s like a homosexual male or female willing to tell the world what goes on and after so much grief a group finally accepts the person. The actions of others made Kurt stronger. Influences around him has made him feel more like who he is rather then what a cruel society makes him feel like. It is true that family is one of the most essential things you need in life. And Kurt no longer has to search because his family is the X-Men.
Night Crawler’s origin is originally unknown but for a fact his parents are the mutant Mystique and the demon Azazel. He has the power to teleport just like his father and has his father’s demonic look. He has his mother’s blue skin. He was part of the circus where he came across a hysterical family that had no ill feelings toward mutants. He left because of an unfair treatment he was receiving and moved on with life. He started a new life in Germany where he met his brother Stefan whom he accidently kills in a fight. But while still living in Germany people couldn’t adjust to knowing what he was, so angry mobs started attacking him not so long after his brother’s death. Thankfully Charles Xavier of the X-Men came to save young Kurt. And that is how he took on the identity of one of the X-Men’s finest. He might seem like an evil mutant but is a big believer of God and is Catholic. Kurt is peaceful but because of the world’s misconception of his apperance his darker side shows more.
Chapter 4
Nature vs Nurture Debate- The ongoing discussion of the respective roles of genetics and socialization in determining individual behaviors and traits.(PG 101)
Night Crawler is born with blue skin. Of course his genetic make up is from his mother but his social interaction is the reason for his shyness and animalistic behavior at times. His problems are that he was never taught socialization until he was older. He was raised by foster parents who then gave him to the church for his own protection. And as he was older he moved to the circus, but in the real world his social skills had to be weak. If someone was to see Kurt you would think he was a feral person but he’s not. The mind just makes you think that way because of his skin and demonic tail. The good thing about Kurt was he wasn’t part of the hip social norm nor was he competitive toward anybody in the circus. His whole life he wanted to be surrounded by people who didn’t have a problem being surrounded by him. His ego was righteous and respectful and he never had a super ego. His stages of life were never really spoken of because he had no real childhood or teen stages because of lack of interaction. His expressions may seem strange because he wasn’t taught much interaction. He had no real schooling. Out of most of the super heroes Night Crawler seems to be the one not poisoned by society. Even as he joins the X-Men and views them as peers there of no mental threat and mass media doesn’t affect him much because he’s around other mutants and mutants are hated so he blends in. But his ascribed status makes him always stand out as the scariest X-Men. So of course he’ll be stereotyped and made fun of and even feared. But Kurt’s role conflict is taking machinery from Professor Xavier that can cloak him to look like a regular person, or go through life not being himself. This is what sets off his emotions and personalities. This really hits him hard when he try’s to figure out if he wants to blend in or be with his lover Amanda Sefton who accepts Kurt for who he is. His feeling rules ultimately force his to be who he is and not someone else.
Chapter 6
Ritualists- Individuals who have given up hope of achieving society’s approved goals but still operate according to society’s approved means. (PG 157)
Night crawler like a select group of other mutants has given up home on getting society’s acceptance because he knows he will always be viewed as a grotesque figure in everyone else’s eyes besides other mutants. He hasn’t went down a path of destruction but one of helping others make better for their selves like when he helped Storm calm the rage of the Morlocks that were kidnapping other mutants, which is an underground mutant cult. Night Crawler hopes that society becomes stronger and wiser and through his Catholic belief’s he hopes for the world to look at the spirit instead of the man. Kurt could be judged on many things though he lives a righteous life. But he could be judged by his tattoos. In X-Men 2 Storm and Jean pay close attention to his tattoos which all of them have something to do with a religious aspect of Catholic relations. He operates according to how society feels with the image inducer but ultimately he will always feel a certain way about hiding his true self. So to go along with his beliefs Night Crawler is a big ritualist because instead of being focused on what is seen through society’s eyes he is more focused on being seen through Gods eyes by the lords approved means.
Chapter 8
Situational Ethnicity- An ethnic identity that can be either displayed or concealed depending on its usefulness in a given situation. (PG 218)
When any person takes a good look at Kurt. There is no ethnicity among regular human beings; granted Kurt is a mutant. But he was born in Russia and raised catholic. When most people think of that they think of a dark brownish haired light eyed gentleman. When Kurt is viewed from everyone in the world he is viewed as a demon no more and no less. What makes him stand out among the other x men is that he has one of the strongest beliefs in God and tries to convert wolverine in believing in something at one point in time. Kurt has three fingers: razor sharp teeth: a tail with a spear: and blue skin, along with the fact his somewhat hunch back and has the ability to crawl along with his teleportation ability. In everyone’s eyes he is the monster in the room. He conceals his identity with the image inducer machine that is given to him. What’s foul is not only in the real world with no mutants but in the x men world with many mutants in that people are always looking for something to hate. In the real world people discriminate off the way you sound and your skin color. What hurts is the fact that in the mutant world people of all different races and ethnicities come together to hate against one type of people. Those people are mutants. And so be it that there is no discrimination in the mutant world whatsoever unless you choose to feel that way and end up living with the Morlocks which heaven forbid. But Kurt is always having to choose what side is right. That could be his Catholic morals and his mutant morals. He goes from being a regular Caucasian male around regular people to a demon looking semi-grotesque creature around his mutant comrades. And I know for a fact is that Kurt can’t be who he wants to be when he wants to be it because people will scold and attack him and the other mutants that even resemble Kurt’s figure or visual build in anyway shape or form will judge him for not being who he is. So Kurt is like many people that are always trying to fit in because every day he lives and saves lives there is a constant struggle between who he is and who he tries to be. And I call him Kurt because that is his name which holds more value in my eyes besides some name professor Xavier gives a mutant which he feels the need to name at times though I know he only gives suggestions. But it hurts me as a person to know that Night Crawlers situational ethnicity boils down to transforming into a regular person and actually looking like his name, a true Night Crawler.
Chapter 10
Belief- A proposition or ideas held on the basis of faith. (PG 303)
Through every problem and situation Kurt kept his religion. Kurt is Roman Catholic and has stayed true to what he believes. The world tosses Kurt aside but through the good word Kurt finds peace and love. His religion promotes good qualities for him. But he needs to have respectful qualities if he is to be judged in a hurtful way daily. He has tried to convert others to a faith because he feels it is god to have a strong belief. Night Crawler tries to save the day not only with his powers and swords but his religion. The faith is what pushes him to do better.
Chapter 16
Social Change-The transformation of a culture over time. (PG 469)
Night Crawler makes a transformation like no other among the X-Men. Kurt has become like a family member to the others mutants regardless how much he sticks out. His social change was the people that would accept it and that are what matters. There is no more living in shadows or being considered the odd ball out. Wolverine of all people accepting Kurt and making him part of his shield team and Professor Xavier making wolverine basically a upper classed X-Men changed Kurt. His personality and mind frame changed and that’s what’s most important. In Kurt’s situation it’s like a homosexual male or female willing to tell the world what goes on and after so much grief a group finally accepts the person. The actions of others made Kurt stronger. Influences around him has made him feel more like who he is rather then what a cruel society makes him feel like. It is true that family is one of the most essential things you need in life. And Kurt no longer has to search because his family is the X-Men.